Economy

To take advantage of the Biden factor, experts say South Korean corporations will need to join U.S.-led supply chains while remaining on friendly terms with China.
Business trends

What Korea Inc. stands to gain from a Biden presidency

More certainty and continued pressure on China would help Samsung and others

20 January 2021
 South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on Dec. 21.
Economy

Moon's party seeks to force Korean tech giants to share profits

DP chairman launches task force to divert funds into consumer pockets

17 January 2021
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga explains his latest coronavirus measures on Jan. 13. He says he is tightening border restrictions further because "citizens are increasingly anxious" and he is "taking the situation seriously." (Source photos by Hirofumi Yamamoto and Uichiro Kasai)
Coronavirus

Japan halts business travel and threatens to deport quarantine violators

Foreigners face loss of resident status if they do not follow tightened controls

14 January 2021
A majority of Chinese and South Korean executives surveyed said U.S-China relations will improve after Joe Biden, left, enters the White House. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
Business trends

East Asian executives expect better US-China ties under Biden

Japanese more pessimistic about COVID impact and economic outlook

13 January 2021
RCEP is raising hopes for Asia's post-COVID economic recovery, as well as questions about how non-signatories India and the U.S. will respond.
Asia Insight

RCEP: China to gain as trade pact ripples across post-COVID world

Japan and South Korea also likely winners; outsiders US and India eye next moves

5 January 2021
While the impact of the virus will be felt for decades to come, there are many reasons to be optimistic as we head into 2021.
Asia Insight

An optimist's guide to 2021 in Asia

The pandemic has been a catalyst for change in health, tech and working practices

29 December 2020
People wearing face masks pass a Christmas tree on a shopping street in Seoul last month.
Coronavirus

No Christmas cheer in South Korea as COVID rules create confusion

Moon administration losing support over handling of pandemic

25 December 2020
Hundreds of thousands of fans bought tickets for an online concert by BTS in June.
Media & Entertainment

BTS' global stardom gives K-pop exports a big boost

Online concerts for cooped-up fans help double CD and DVD sales

25 December 2020
Business groups deemed “financial conglomerates” face greater scrutiny under South Korea’s new corporate law. (Source photos by AP, Reuters and screenshot from Mirae Asset, DB and Kyobo website) 
Companies

South Korea targets Samsung and others under tougher corporate law

Regulator says six conglomerates will have to meet new rules for financial groups

16 December 2020
Government debt is now extremely cheap, with nominal and real interest rates on the sovereign debt of high-income economies at staggeringly low levels. (Source photo by Getty Images) 
The World Ahead

Five powerful forces will affect the world in 2025: Martin Wolf

Tech, inequality, debt, de-globalization and political stress to remain decisive

16 December 2020
A medical worker wearing protective gear speaks as people wait in line at a coronavirus testing center in Seoul on Dec. 12.
Coronavirus

South Korea and Germany blindsided by COVID-19 wave

Reduced vigilance opens door to infections despite mass testing and tracking

15 December 2020
South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks on Dec. 7. The president apologized to the nation at the weekend for failing to stop the recent surge in COVID cases.
Coronavirus

South Korea considers strictest COVID curbs as cases hit new high

Moon's approval ratings fall to record low as pandemic management criticized

14 December 2020
South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks at an event in Seoul on Dec. 8.
Trade

Moon raises prospect of South Korea joining TPP trade pact

President looks to strike balance after RCEP deal with China

9 December 2020
A virtual meeting of leaders from 15 RCEP member countries, pictured in Hanoi on Nov. 15: the impetus came from ASEAN. (Photo by Tomoya Onishi)
Opinion

ASEAN must counter Chinese attempts to own RCEP trade agreement

Multilateral trade agreement will shore up the group's Asia centrality

27 November 2020
A shopkeeper waits for customers outside a restaurant in a Seoul shopping district on Tuesday.
Economy

BOK raises South Korean GDP forecast to just under zero for 2020

Central bank lifts projection to minus 0.1%, while holding key rate

26 November 2020
The Chang'e 5 lunar probe completes vertical transport in Wenchang, Hainan, China on Nov. 17.
Your Week in Asia

China's moonshot, Xiaomi results, and India GDP

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

22 November 2020
A couple walks down a street in Seoul, left, and bright lights in Sapporo's Susukino district show that the nightlife magnet is still in business. (Source photos by Kyodo and Reuters)
Coronavirus

Japan and South Korea hit by COVID spikes: 5 things to know

Crisis control of two nations contrasts with China's draconian lockdowns

20 November 2020
Leaders and trade ministers from the 15 Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership countries pose for a virtual group photo during the signing ceremony hosted by Vietnam on Nov. 15.
Trade

Asia forms world's largest trading bloc RCEP after years of talks

After signing, focus turns to ratification; China to hold sway in India's absence

16 November 2020
Containers are piled up at a port in Yokohama, Japan. For Japan, almost 90% of auto parts shipped to China will become tariff-free under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
International relations

RCEP to remove tariffs on 86% of Japan's exports to China

Tokyo scores major win with Beijing and Seoul's participation in free trade pact

15 November 2020
Myeongdong shopping district in Seoul: the country is far from ready for a serious discussion about the wrenching topic.
Opinion

How a TV drama is helping address South Korea's mental health crisis

Hit series sheds light on the elephant in the room

14 November 2020
Analysts expect more strategic and measured thinking and actions by the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden than incumbent Donald Trump (Source photos by Reuters) 
US elections 2020

Three ways Biden will immediately shift US policy on Asia

Strategy to replace brinkmanship on security; roadblocks on return to TPP

12 November 2020
A container ship is seen at a port in Shenzhen: RCEP will be the first trade agreement to include East Asia's three biggest economies.
Trade

RCEP nations to sign Asian trade megadeal, with clause for India

China, Japan and dozen other countries reach long-sought pact after 'blood, sweat and tears'

12 November 2020
India indicated its unwillingness to join RCEP during the summit in November last year in Bangkok. (Photo by Rie Ishii)
International relations

RCEP summit on Nov. 15 to discuss trade deal by year-end, without India

Leaders from 15 countries aim to finalize Asia's biggest free trade agreement

7 November 2020
Korean Air Lines' robust cargo business has kept South Korea's flag carrier afloat during the pandemic.
Transportation

Korean Air rides out pandemic turbulence with turn to cargo

Flag carrier reports quarterly operating profit as freight accounts for 66% of revenue

6 November 2020
Singapore is handing out these TraceTogether "tokens" -- electronic trackers intended to help stop coronavirus clusters before they start.
Coronavirus

How Singapore fights COVID with contact tracing: 5 things to know

After dorm crisis, city-state is again a success story, but can others copy it?

3 November 2020